Corn-planter.



N'o. 897,220. PATENTED AUG. 25., 1908.

C.. W. MICHAEL. CORN PLANTER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1908.

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No. 897,220. PATBNTED AUG. 25, 1908. G. W..M10HAEL.

l CoRN PLANTBR. APPLICATION FILED IAN.13, 1908.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

CLEMENT W. MICHAEL, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO J. I. CASE PLOWWORKS, OF RACINE,- WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION.

CORN-PLANTER.

Original application filed July' 11, 1906, Serial No. 325,571.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 410,468.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLEMENT W. MICHAEL, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Racine, county of Racine, and State of /Visconsin,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Planters, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to corn planters and more particularly to themechanism for delivering the kernels one at a time from the seed box orhopper, the seed being accumulated one at a time by suitable valvemechanism for hill planting Ybut allowed to fall freely from the seeddelivery mechanism in drill planting.

The invention seeks to improve the seed delivery mechanism to insure theaccurate and proper delivery of the seed from the seed can or hopper andconsists in the features of construction, l combinations andarrangements of parts hereinafter set forth, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

The present application is a division of a prior application filed by meJuly 11, 1906, Serial No. 325,571.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the seed mechanism in thebottom of the seed can or hopper, the body of the can or hopper beingshown in section. Fig. 2 is a crosssection on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig.2b is a partial cross-section similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the useof a different seed-plate. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the capplate or cover that extends over the seed plate. Fig. 4 is a detailsection on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section similar to Fig. 2illustrating a modified form of the seeding mechanism. Fig. 6 is aninverted plan view of the seeding mechanism shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is aplan view of the support for the seeding mechanism shown in Figs. 5 and6.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the seedboX or hopper 10 isprovided with a bottom portion 11 of cast metal. The seedbox bottom 11is provided on one side with a pair of lugs 12 through which extend apivot bolt 13 which serves to pivotally connect the seedbox to the frameof the machine. At the opposite side, the seedboX bottom is providedwith a perforated lug 14 for receiving a bolt to connect the seedboX tothe frame at this point. By removing the bolt through the lug 14 theseedbox may be swung about the pivot pin 13. y

The bottom 11 of the seedboX or hopper is provided at its edge with anupwardly-projecting flange 15 which fits within the body portion of thehopper and which is preferably cut away or beveled at its upper portion,as indicated at 16. A cap or cover plate 17 is mounted upon a centralraised portion 18 of the hopper bottom and the outer, downturned edge ofthis cap or cover plate forms, with the fiange 15 of the hopper bottom,an annular feedway through which the kernels of corn are delivered tothe cells of the seed plate that rotates below the cap plate. A centralstud or bolt 19 extends through the raised portion 18 of the hopperbottom and through the cap plate 17. A winged nut 20 upon the upper endof the bolt 19 removably holds the cap plate or cover 17 in position. Apiece 21 is held in place by a bolt 22 beneath the lower headed pin ofthe stud 19 so that the latter cannot fall from position when thethumbnut 2O is removed.

The seed plate in the hopper bottom is driven by an annular beveled gear23 that is arranged within an annular groove or recess 24 in the hopperbottom. This gear is driven in the usual manner from a beveled pinionupon a shaft 25 that is journaled in the frame of the machine beneaththe seed can or hopper. The annular gear 23 is provided with aninwardly-projecting, horizontal flange 26 that engages a rabbet orshoulder 27 in the hopper bottom so that the gear is rotatably sustainedin position. The gear is also provided adjacent its outer edge with anupwardly-projecting flange 28. The different annular seed platesemployed are held in position between the hopper bottom 11 and the coveror cap plate 17 and between the upright iange 15 of the hopper bottomand the upright iiange 28 of the drive gear 23. The seed plates areprovided with inwardly-projecting lugs 29 (see Fig. 2) that engagenotches in the vertical iange 28 of the gear so that the seed plates areconnected to rotate with the gear.

The hopper bottom is designed to receive plates in which the cells areadapted either for containing single kernels or for containingsuiiicient kernels to form a full hill. The

thick seed plate 30 shown in Fig. 2b, takes up all the space between thecover plate and the bottom of the hopper, and the seed cells 31 thereinare of sufficient size to contain the desired number of kernels to forma hill. Where the seed is to be accumulated, one at a time as themachine travels between rows, the thin seed plate 32 (see Figs. 2 and 4)is employed. To hold the thin seed plate 32 in proper position againstthe lower edge of the cap plate or cover 1 7, an annular space plate 33is interposed between the seed plate 32 and the hopper bottom 11. Thisspacing plate is provided with a discharge opening 34 end with adownwardly-projecting part 35 Ithat extends within the discharge-opening36 of the hopper bottom and serves to hold the spacing plate accuratelyin position and also holds it against revolution.

The cells 37 of the seed plate 32 are ar-v ranged to hold single kernelslatwise and are preferably round, as shown, and conical in form, that isto say, the cells are slightly larger at their lower portions than theyare at their upper portions and the upper edge is preferably slightlychamfered or beveled off (see Fig. 4). To accurately charge the cells ofthe seed plate with corn, the cover or cap plate 17 is provided at itsperiphery with a y series of serrations or teeth 38, the points of whichextend closely adjacent the inner edges of the seed cells 37. abruptfaces 39 of the teeth 38 are radially disposed, while the outer curvedfaces or -edges 40 are forwardly and outwardly inclined in the directionof rotation of the seed plate. The seed plates rotate in the directionof the arrow, shown in Fig. 1, and the upper surfaces of the seed plate32, and also of the spacing plate 33, are smoothly finished andpolished. As the seed plate 32 rotates, the kernels within the seedgroove above the cells will be pushed outwardly by -the inclined edges4() into the cells so that the Alatter will be accurately and uniformlycharged with seed. The cells are of such shape that, when once chargedwith seed, it is difficult for the seed to escape therefrom, except ofcourse, in the proper manner, i. c.,

Athrough the discharge opening 36.

A peculiar form of cut-off is provided which will effectually preventthe discharge of more than one kernel of corn from any of the cells ofthe thin plate 32. The cap plate or cover 17 is provided intermediateits upper and lower edges and at one portion of its periphery, with anoutwardly-projecting supporting flange 41, the outer edge of whichengages a suitable seat 42 in the hopper bottom (see Fig. 2). Thisflange 41 is also arranged between a pair of lugs 43 (see Fig. 1) in thehopper bottom, so that the cap plate is held against twisting. Theflange 41 is spaced above the seed plate, as most clearly shown in Figs.2 and 4, so that a passage-way 44 is The forward i formed above thecells 37 of the plate. The forward end of this passage-way is blocked bya cut-off 45 which is arranged within a slot or guide-way in the flange41, and which is provided with a stem 46 extending upwardly through acasing 47. This casing is arranged over the flange 41 of the cap plateand is secured to the latter by screw-bolts 48. A spring 49 coiled aboutthe stem 46 holds the cut-off 45 in normal position with a stop-lug 50thereon in engagement with the flange 41. The cut-off 45 is providedwith a beveled lower edge that is held snugly into engagement with theseed plate and the faces of the cut-off which form this beveled edge,are ground and smoothly polished and are inclined upwardly and away fromthe seed plate. The cut-off itself is nearly up right but is slightlyinclined from a perpendicular to the face of the seed plate and in thedirection in which the plate is moving.-

The cut-off, instead of being pivoted as in the ordinary construction,is accurately guided by the supporting-.flange 41 to shiftlongitudinally inv a straight path and is slightly inclined from theerpendicular to the seed plate. This pecu iar arrangement of cut-off isfound to operate with great accuracy for defiecting seeds in excess fromthe cells 37 and effectually accomplishes its work without cracking orbreaking the kernels.

A seed-ejector or expeller 51 is arranged in a cut-away space or s ot 52in the flange 41 and over the discharge opening 36. This expeller ismounted to swing on pintles 53 that are suitably journaled in socketsformed upon the flange 41. A cushion spring 54 interposed between a lugon the flange 41 and a lug 56 on an arm 57 of the seed ejector orexlpeller, serves to project the latter, into the ce ls 37 as they passover the discharge opening. To limit the movement of the seedexpeller,it is provided with an arm 58 that is arranged to strike the flange 41when the expeller entersone of the cells of the seed plate. A secondarycut-off' or curved guide-finger is arranged between the primary cut-off45 and the seed-expeller 51. This secondary cut-olf or guide finger 59is held just above the upper surface of the seed plate and is providedat its forward end with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined stem 60 thatis swiveled in the flange 41 and in the casing 47 It is held inpositionas shown,by a cotter-pin 61 extending through an opening in thestem 60 above the casing 47. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the forward endof the guide-'linger is arranged against a lug 62 formed on the 'flange41 at the outer side of the passage-way 44, where the rear end of thefinger is arranged in front of the seedeexpeller 51. The arrangement issuch that any seed in excess which may pass the primary cut-off 45 willbe deflected by the guide-finger or secondary cut-'off 59 past theseed-expeller and will move through the passage 44 back into the seedhopper. In prior seeding mechanisms which accumulate the seed one at atime, the seed plate is usually provided with cells at its edge andwhich are arranged to receive the kernels edgewise only. Such anarrangement requires that the seed be very carefully selected, sinceround or irregular-shaped kernels cannot enter the cells. The presentarrangement of thin plate in which the cells are arranged to receive theseed flatwise, together with the present improved construction ofserrated or toothed cover plate, and with the improved cut-off mechanismset forth, has been found in practice to operate with great accuracy inaccumulating the seed one at a time and does not require great care .inthe selection of the seed employed. Moreover, when desired a thick platehaving cells of sufficient size to hold an entire hill of corn may besubstituted for the thin plate.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the improvements aboveset forth are applied to the so-called movable bottom seed-hooper, i.e., one inv which the plate may be removed and changed from the bottomof the hopper without necessitating the removal of the seed therein.plates, drive gear and cut-off mechanism are entirely similar to thatbefore described. The cap plate 17a is also of similar construction butis formed in one piece with the annular flange 15a of the hopper bottom.This flange is provided with a pair of outwardlyprojecting lugs 63through which extend a pivot-pin 64. This pin also extends through asleeve or lug 65 upon a support or casting 66 upon which the hopperrests. In this way the hopper is hinged to the support 66, whichsupportis connected by bolts extending through a box 67 thereon to theplanter frame. At a point opposite its hinge, the hopper bottom isprovided with a horizontally extending, slotted lug 68 and an eyebolt 69having a winged thumb nut 70 is arranged to engage the slotted lug 68and hold the seed hopper in place. The eyebolt 69 is pivoted upon across-pin 7l that is arranged in a forked lug 72 on the supportingcasting 66. The supporting casting 66 is provided with a dischargeopening 73 andv with an annular recess 7 4 within which the beveleddrive gear 23 is arranged. The inwardly-projecting horizontal fiange 26of the drive gear in this instance engages a suitable rabbet or shoulder75 in a raised central portion 76 of the supporting casting 66. Thedrive gear 23 is thus free to rotate upon the support 66 but is heldagainst displacement therefrom by two washers 77 (see Figs. 5 and 7)which are secured to the raised Acentral portion 76 of the support 66 bybolts 78 and which overlap the inner edge of the drive gear. The seedplate 32 as before is provided with inwardly-projecting lugs 29 The seedthat engage notches in the upstanding flange 28 of the drive gear 23.

The seed plate 32 and the spacing plate 33 are held in place by asuitable retaining plate 79 that is removably secured to the bottom ofthe hopper. In the form shown, the retaining plate 79 is arranged toengage a pair of lugs 80 on the hopper bottom (see Fig. 6) and isprovided at one side with a slotted lug 81 that is adapted to he engagedby an eye-bolt 82. The upper end of this eye-bolt is arranged within aslot 83 in the lug 68 on the hopper bottom and is swivcled thereto upona cross-pin 84. The lower end of the pin is provided with a thumb-nut 85by which the retaining plate 79 is removably held in position. In theworking position of the parts, the retaining bolt 82 and the nut 85.thereon extend within a recess 86 in the offset lug 72 of thesupporting casting 66.

The retaining plate 79 is of course provided with a discharge opening 87that coincides with the discharge opening 34 of the spacing plate 33.The spacing plate, in this form, is provided with an offset lug 88 (seeFig. 5

and in dotted lines in Fig. 6) which engages a notch in the seedboxbottom l5a to hold the spacing plate against revolution. lf desired, theseed-plate 32 and spacing-plate 33 in this form may he removed andreplaced by a thick plate, such as shown at 30 in Fig. 2b, `and havingcells of sufficient size for each to hold a hill of corn.

To effect the removal and change of plates in the form shown in Figs. 5,6 and 7, the wing-nut 70 on the eye-bolt 69 is vfirst loosened and swungoutwardly so that the hopper and hopperl bottom may be swung back uponthe pivot-bolt 64 to the inverted position shown in Fig. 6. When thehopper is swung back in this manner, the seed plate is disconnected fromthe beveled gear 23 which remains in position upon the support 66. Thenby loosening the nut 85 on the bolt 82 the latter may be shifted torelease the retaining plate 79. On the removal of the retaining plate,the spacing plate 33 and the seed plate 32 may be removed and a seedplate equal in thickness to both of these plates, such as shown at 30 inFig. 2b may be substituted therefor. The retaining plate 79 will then beplaced in engagement with the lugs 80 and clamped in position by ythethumb-nut 85 on the bolt 82. The seedbox is then swung back on top ofthe support 66 so that the lugs 29 of the seed plate reengage thenotches of the flange 28 on the gear 23. The hopper is then clamped inthis operative position by means of the thumb-nut 70 on the bolt 69.

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details ofstructure and arrangements of parts without departure from theessentials of the invention.

4Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is :d

1. In a corn planter, the combination with a seed hopper, of a serratedcover plate secured to the bottom of said hopper, a seed plate heldinplace between the bottom of said hopper and said cover plate, saidseed plate having cells adapted to receive single kernels ilatwise, saidcover plate having serrations or teeth the points of which extendadjacent the inner edges of the cells of said seed plate and the outeredges of which teeth are inclined outwardly and forwardly in thedirection of rotation of the seed plate, a primary cut-off adjacent thedischarge opening of said hopper, means for supporting and guiding saidcut-off in a straight path slightly inclined from the perpendicular tothe face of the seed plate, a seed expeller and a secondary cut-off orguide-finger inter osed between said primary cut-off and saidpseedexpeller, substantially as described.

2. In corn planters, the combination with a seed hopper having adischarge opening, of a seed plate in the bottom of said hopper havy ingcells arranged to receive single kernels iiatwise, a cap or cover abovesaid seed plate having inclined teeth extending adjacent said cells, aspacing plate between the bottom of said hopper and said seed plate,said spacing plate and said seed plate having polished upper surfaces, acut-off adjacent said discharge opening and a support for said cutoffhaving means for guiding the same in a straight path slightly inclinedto a perpendicular to said seed plate, substantially as described.

3. In corn planters, the combination with a seed ho per having adischarge opening, of a seed p ate in the bottom of said hopper havingcells arranged to receive single kernels flatwise, a cap or cover abovesaid seed plate having inclined teeth extending adj acent said cells, aspacing plate between the bottom of said hopper and said seed plate,said spacing plate and said seed plate having polished upper surfaces, acut-off adjacent said discharge opening, means for supporting andguiding said cut-off in a straight path slightly inclined to aperpendicular to the seed plates, a seed expeller and a secondarycut-off or guide finger for defiecting seed in excess in said cells pastsaid seed expeller, substantially as described.

4. In corn planters, the combination with the seed hopper having adischarge opening, of a seed plate and a spacing plate in the bottom ofsaid hopper, a cover overlapping said seed plate having teeth orserrations, the outer points of which lie adjacent the cells of saidseed plate, a primary cut-off, means for supporting and guiding saidcut-off in a straight path slightly inclined from a perpendicular to theface of the'seed plate, a seed expeller and a guide nger interposedbetween said rimary cut-off and said expeller, substantial y asdescribed.

5. In a corn planter, the combination with a seed hopper, of a supportbelow said hopper whereon the same is movably mounted, a cap-platesecured to the bottom of said hopper, a seed-plate below said cap plate,an annular retaining plate removably secured to the bottom of saidhopper, an annular spacing-plate held in position between said retainingplate and said seed-plate, and a drive gear mounted on the support belowsaid hopper and having parts extending upwardly through said annularretaining and spacing plates and detachably engaging said seed plate,substantially as described.

6. In a corn planter, the combination with a corn hopper movably mountedon a suitable support, of a serrated cover plate secured to the bottomof said hopper, a seed plate below said cover, a retaining plateremovably secured to the bottom of said hopper, a spacing plate betweensaid retaining plate and said seed plate, a primary cut-off adjacent thedischarge opening of said hopper, means for supporting and guiding saidcut-0H in a straight path slightly inclined from a perpendicular to theface of the seed plate, a seed expeller and a secondary cut-off or guidefinger interposed between said primary cut-off and said seed expeller,substantially as described.

7 In a corn planter, the combination with a hopper hinged to a suitablesupport, of a rotating seed plate in the bottom of said hopper, aretaining plate, means for locking said retaining plate in position onthe vbottom of said hopper, a cover over said seed plate, a primarycut-off adjacent the discharge opening of said hopper, a seed expellerand a secondary cut-od or guide 'linger interposed between said primarycut-off and said seed expeller', substantially as described.

8. In a corn planter, the combination with a seed hopper' movablymounted in position, of a serrated cover plate secured to the bottom ofsaid hopper, a retaining plate removably secured to the bottom of saidhopper, a seed plate held in place between said retaining plate and saidcover plate, said seed plate having cells adapted to receive singlekernels flatwise, said cover plate having serrations or teeth the pointsof which extend adjacent the inner' edges of the cells of said seedplate and the outer edges of which are inclined outwardly and forwardlyin the direction of the rotation of the seed plate, a primary cut-olfadjacent the discharge opening of said hopper, means for supporting andguiding said cut-off in a straight path slightly inclined from aperpendicular to the face of the seed plate, a seed expeller and asecondary cut-off or guide linger interposed between said primarycut-ofi'l and said seed expeller, substantially as described.

Q. In a corn planter, the combination with olined from a perpendioulartothe face of the a hopper bottom movably mounted in posiseed plate, aseed eXpeller and a secondary tion, a Cover plate secured to said hopperl out off or guide linger interposed between bottom, a retaining plateremovably looked said rimary eut-off and between said seed 5 in positionuploln the bottom of said hopper, a I expe 1er, substantially asdescribed.

seed plate he in position etWeen said re- Y taining plate and said coverplate, a primary, CLEMENT W' MICHAEL' eut-oli adjacent the dischargeopening of said Witnesses: hopper, means for supporting and guidingPERCY ROBERT BORMAR, 10 said out-offy in a straight path slightly in-ROY WINFIELD MARTIN.

